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BRAMSHILL SCHOLAR - AN ASSESSMENT

NCJ Number
47732
Journal
Police Journal Volume: 51 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL-JUNE 1978) Pages: 136-160
Author(s)
C SMITH
Date Published
1978
Length
25 pages
Annotation
A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT IS UNDERTAKEN OF THE BRAMSHILL SCHOLAR SCHEME, A BRITISH EFFORT AT INTRODUCING LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL TO ACADEMIC DISCIPLINES.
Abstract
THE SCHEME COMMENCED IN 1964 WITH THREE SCHOLARS ENTERING UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, LONDON, TO READ LAW. SINCE THEN, THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPATING OFFICERS AND INSTITUTIONS HAS RISEN STEDILY: IN 1977, THERE WERE 31 SCHOLARS AND 45 COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM. AN ANALYSIS OF THE SCHEME'S PROGRESS SINCE 1964'S ATTEMPTED AND AN ASSESSMENT IS MADE OF THE SCHEME'S SUCCESS IN ISOLATION. THE PROMOTIONAL SUCCESS OF THE SCHOLARS IS COMPARED WITH THAT OF OTHER OFFICERS WHO HAVE EITHER (1) OBTAINED DEGREES THROUGH ALTERNATIVE SCHEMES; (2) JOINED THROUGH THE GRADUATE ENTRY SCHEME; (3) GAINED DEGREES BY OTHER MEANS; (4) ARE SPECIAL COURSE STUDENTS BUT NOT SCHOLARS; OR (5) HAVE GAINED NORMAL PROMOTIONS WITHIN SELECTED FORCES. THE FINANCING OF THE SCHEME IS DISCUSSED BRIEFLY, AS WELL AS THE EVENTS SURROUNDING RESIGNATIONS OF SCHOLARS FROM THE POLICE SERVICE. THE SCHEME'S FUTURE IS CONSIDERED. IN TERMS OF THE ORIGINAL AIM OF THE SCHEME, THE CONCLUSION IS THAT IT HAS BEEN A SUCCESS IN SOME AREAS: (1) THE BREADTH OF PENETRATION INTO THE ACADEMIC WORLD; (2) THE GROWTH IN THE NUMBERS OF PARTICIPANTS TO A TOTAL OF 245 SCHOLARS; (3) THE RANGE AND QUALITY OF DEGREES BEING ACHIEVED; AND (4) THE SPREAD OF CONFIDENCE IN THE SCHEME WHICH INFLUENCES UNIVERSITIES TO ACCEPT INSPECTOR COURSE OFFICERS WHO HAVE NOT GONE THROUGH THE SAME EXACTING PROFESSIONAL AND ACADEMIC SELECTION AS THEIR SPECIAL COURSE COLLEAGUES. REGARDING THE SUCCESS OF THE SCHEME ITSELF, IT IS NOTED THAT THE DISTRIBUTION OF SCHOLARS AMONG FORCES IS UNEVEN AND THAT A TREND TOWARD GREATER NUMBERS COMING FROM THE INSPECTORS COURSE, MAINLY OLDER MEN, IS A DISTURBING REFLECTION ON THE QUALITY OF THE NEWER RECRUITS INTO THE POLICE. HOWEVER, THE SCHEME MAY ASSIST IN CHANGING THE IMAGE OF POLICE WORK TOWARD BEING ACCEPTED AS A PROFESSION, WITH A RESPECTED SOCIAL AND ACADEMIC STANDING. HOWEVER, IT IS ARGUABLE THAT THE SCHEME IS NOT YET SUCCESSFUL IN ATTRACTING OTHER GRADUATES AND BETTER EDUCATED RECRUITS. REGARDING THE PROMOTIONAL SUCCESS OF SCHEME SCHOLARS, IT IS FOUND THAT: (1) SPECIAL COURSE SCHOLARS GAIN FASTER EARLY PROMOTION THAN THOSE FROM THE INSPECTORS COURSE; (2) INSPECTORS COURSE SCHOLARS DO BETTER THAN NONSCHOLARS, AND THEIR RATE OF PROMOTION IS FASTER IN THE HIGHER RANKS THAN THEIR SPECIAL COURSE CONTEMPORARIES; (3) THE NUMBER OF SCHOLARS REACHING HIGHER RANKS IS VERY LOW; (4) A VERY SMALL NUMBER OF SCHOLARS, PARTICULARLY THOSE IN SPECIAL COURSES, DO EXCEPTIONALLY WELL; AND (5) THE CRUCIAL FACTOR FOR SUCCESS APPEARS TO BE THE OPPORTUNITY TO GAIN RELEVANT OPERATIONAL EXPERIENCE, WHICH WILL PREPARE THE OFFICER FOR HIGHER PROFESSIONAL TRAINING. WHETHER THE SCHEME HAS A FUTURE PLACE WITHIN THE SYSTEM OF HIGHER TRAINING IN THE POLICE SERVICE IS DEPENDENT ON TWO FACTORS. FIRST, THE POLICE MUST BE ABLE TO RECRUIT ENOUGH GRADUATES OF THE QUALITY NEEDED TO MAKE THE PROVISION OF A VERY EXPENSIVE INSERVICE SCHEME REDUNDANT. SECOND, THE SERVICE MUST CONTINUE TO FIND SUFFICIENT MEN AND WOMEN OF BOTH ACADEMIC AND PROFESSIONAL POTENTIAL WITHIN ITS RANKS TO JUSTIFY THE HEAVY INVESTMENT OF TIME AND MONEY NEEDED TO SEND THEM TO THE PARTICIPATING COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. APPENDIXES CONTAINING ASSORTED GRAPHIC AND TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED. (KBL)

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